Journal

The Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin is the longest continuously-published regional folklore journal in the nation. Many of our leading folklore scholars have had their work published in the journal, including Archer Taylor, Henry Glassie, Stith Thompson, Archie Green, Wayland Hand, D.K. Wilgus, Herbert Halpert, and Alan Dundes. Articles from the TFSB have frequently been reprinted in anthologies and textbooks, and are required reading in many folklore classes.

The Bulletin was published twice yearly and is now published on an occasional schedule. The Bulletin was most recently edited by Dr. Brent Cantrell at Jubilee Community Arts in Knoxville, Tennessee.  At this time the address of record is

Tennessee Folklore Society
1538 Laurel Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37916-2016
tfseditor@jubileearts.org

 

Anthology of articles from past Bulletins

A Tennessee Folklore Sampler: Selected Readings from the Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin is edited by Society members Ted Olson and Anthony P. Cavender, A Tennessee Folklore Sampler is a rich selection of the work published over the course of TFSB's seventy-five-year history. It includes articles by some prominent students of folklore, among them Charles Wolfe, Charles Faulkner Bryan, Thomas Burton, Donald Davidson, Herbert Halpert, Mildred Haun, Michael Lofaro, Michael Montgomery, and Tom Rankin. The book is divided into ten parts covering material culture, medicine, beliefs and practices, customs, play and recreation lore, speech, legends, ballad and song, instrumental traditions and music collecting, and folk communities.

A Tennessee Folklore Sampler is published by the University of Tennessee Press, with all royalties from the sale of the book going to the Tennessee Folklore Society.  For more information and ordering instructions please visit the UT Press website.


Recordings

In the 1970s the Tennessee Folklore Society initiated a record series featuring some of the state's finest traditional musicians.  Items from the series were often recognized through inclusion on the annual selected list of "American Folk Music and Folklore Recordings" compiled by the Library of Congress. One of the early (and now unavailable) LPs, Tennessee Folk Heritage: The Mountains was nominated for a Grammy award. 

To order recordings download, print out, and complete the order form (requires the free Adobe Acrobat reader) and mail with payment to the address on the form. We regret that we are unable to accept credit cards at this time.



May Justus: The Carawan Recordings
TFS-124 / CD $15.00
 
 

Children's author May Justus performs ballads and folk songs, stories, children's songs and games remembered from her childhood in Cocke County.  From fields recordings made by Guy Carawan in 1953 and 1961 with notes by Guy Carawan, May Justus and Bene Scanlon Cox.


 


Will Slayden: African-American Banjo Songs from West Tennessee
TFS-123 / CD $15.00

Rare recordings of one of the last surviving practioners of the once-flourishing black banjo songster tradition. Compiled from field recordings made in 1952 by Charles McNutt, and edited and annotated by blues scholar David Evans.

 

 


The Legendary DeFord Bailey: Country Music's First Black Star
TFS-122 / CD $15.00
 
 

For many years fans of Nashville's Grand Old Opry marveled at the superb harmonica playing of DeFord Bailey. This CD is compiled from recordings made in the mid 1970s in Bailey's home by David Morton. Annotated by Charles K. Wolfe.

 


Uncle Dave Macon: Uncle Dave at Home
SFR-CD-101 / CD $15.00

Uncle Dave Macon was a one-of-a-kind singer, banjo player, and all-around entertainer. He's captured here in an informal session recorded by folklorist and composer Charles Faulkner Bryan in 1950. In its original release this was one of the most popular TFS LPs. Uncle Dave at Home  is now available on compact disc through a collaboration with the Arts Center of Cannon County.  

 


Charlie Acuff: Better Times a-Comin'
TFS-114 / Cassette $10.00

Fiddler Charlie Acuff from Alcoa is one of Tennessee' most beloved traditional musicians and a 2005 recipient of a Governor's Award in the Arts. This album, issued in cooperation with Cleff'd Ear Productions, includes twenty-one old-time fiddle tunes from the Acuff family tradition. Available in  cassette only.


 


The Vaughan Quartets, 1927-1947
TFS- 110 / Cassette and booklet $10.00

James D. Vaughan was one of the most important entrepreneurs in the history of Southern gospel music. Known primarily as a songbook publisher he also sponsored several quartets that toured extensively to promote his songs, and ran the first Southern-based record company in order to further distribute his music. This cassette-only release includes 16 sides recorded for the Vaughan label. Annotated by Charles K. Wolfe. 





LPs--Still Available!

Discount pricing!

Sequatchie Valley: Seven Decades of Country Fiddling by Bob Douglas
TFS-109 / LP and booklet $15.00

Fiddler Bob Douglas (1900-2001) was truly a legend among Tennessee traditional musicians. His life spanned the entire 20th century and he holds the distinction of being the only centenarian ever to play on the Grand Ole Opry. This LP was compiled from sources ranging from 78s to home recordings and includes a 12-page booklet of notes by Bobby Fulcher. 

 


It's Just the Same Today: The Barnicle-Cadle Field Recordings from Eastern Tennessee and Kentucky, 1938-1949
TFS-108 / LP and booklet $15.00

Superb collection of traditional vocal and instrumental music recorded in the field by folklorist and educator Mary Elizabeth Barnicle. The album features ballads, fiddle tunes, gospel songs, and more. Includes 12-page booklet of notes by Willie Smyth.

 


The Hicks Family: A Cumberland Singing Tradition
TFS-104 / LP and booklet $15.00

The discovery by folklorist Bobby Fulcher of the remarkable Hicks Family and their unparalleled ballad-singing tradition rates as one of the high points in folklore studies of the late 20th century. This LP features 20 songs performed by various members of the Hicks family and includes a 24-page booklet of notes by Bobby Fulcher and Charles K. Wolfe.

 

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